lol ManU falling for the old 'option to buy' loan from Barca for Rashford. That option will never be taken up. Rumour that Barca aren't even going to cover all his wages. Can't shift him cause they gave him a massive contract and nobody thinks he's worth paying for.
That's barca giving up. No Williams due to massively long new contract. No diaz cos they have not got the money and bayern are in Rashford. I mean they have better players already. A lot better.
Back to us (sort of) Isak left out of their pre-season game and then sent home according to reports. Howe then came out to say he 'expects' Isak to remain a Newcastle player. Gonna be difficult if he doesn't want to play for them, but the owners can always 'invite' him to an embassy
Official bid for Ekitike gone in. £69m plus £9m. Imagine will be there or there abouts. Sounds like be done shortly, Ekitike was left out of team for friendly today
I'd say they will hold.out for up front fee as they have a release thats not far off thst amount all together. But we will see. I do assume we hear that someone says then off a bit below and always look for value. They'll get it done soon enough.
Isak situation is a classic example of player/agent stupidity. They were very very happy to sign a good contract 3 years ago for 130k but they signed for 6 years. If they had some plan then 6 years was a very long contract and why sign that when you could have said no 4 is fine, you can take an option at best. But there you go. Now isak sees dollar signs and double the cash while Newcastle are just refusing to sell and also not giving him a new contract as they simply don't need to at this point. All those players at chelsea who will likely never see again better contract so might be well pleased with their eventual average prem wage over 8 years of course. Isak is reported angry Newcastle and looking after Newcastle. Should have looked after himself
There's a flip side to that; if, after signing that contract three years ago, Isak didn't do as well and didn't generate the current level of interest. Signing a six year deal would look sensible then, they would have protected their own interests. Hindsight always makes it easier
But shouldn't a player always back themselves? I guess the question is where did isak see his potential going.
Ekitike fee set at lower than Newcastle got rejected. Why? Cos lfc can agree add ons to include winning things to pay frankfurt 9 mil more. I am pretty ok with this signing. Only time will tell what he is really like but he looks rapid and a bit about him.in terms of dribbling, heading and shooting. Again my stated desire last may was to see the side gain pace and intensity. Our next 5 years Ekitike Wirtz Gakpo Szoboszlai Gravenberch Frimpong/Bradley Kerkez Marmadashvilli Quite the core to the squad for tje nedt while if they all work. Just looking for a cb now.
Been a real efffort to bring in younger players this window as well. Wirtz 22 - I guess in theory replace Diaz 28 Kerkez 21 - replaces Robbo 31 / tsimikas 29 frimpong 24 - replaces TAA 26 Pecsi 20 - replaces Jaros 23 mamadashvili 24 - replaces kellher 26 Bringd the average age of first team down a bit and is almost now a Liverpool 3.0
Pesci doesn't replace jaros. It allows us make jaros into a saleable asset. He should do really well at ajax. It is pretty much hitting thrbststegy on thr nose. We have bought players who have done a bit in their careers and have the games and experience to take a step up, if they can grab the chance. It adds huge pace where we were starting to lack it and gives us back intensity Hopefully we fend off real and bayern a while but I see us as stronger than last season not weaker.
